site.btaCourt Remands Lachezar Stavrev

The Sofia City Court imposed the most severe preventive measure of detention in custody on Lachezar Stavrev, a former expert at the Ministry of Finance during the term of former finance minister Assen Vassilev.

A few days ago, Stavrev was charged with official misconduct and money laundering. At a hearing earlier on Saturday, he was also charged with criminal conspiracy.
The measure is being considered at the request of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, which insisted on Stavrev's permanent detention.

The state prosecution indicated that there is evidence that Stavrev ordered the former director of the Customs Agency Petya Bankova to appoint and re-appoint employees, and that Stavrev had influence.

The decision is not final.

On Saturday morning there was a protest in front of the Sofia City Court building demanding the release of Stavrev. His relatives had gathered at the scene. Among the protesters were Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria MPs Assen Vassilev, Kiril Petkov, Nikolay Denkov and others.